‘You study, we’ll do…’: This man pulled a handcart from 4 AM every day; his daughter will now wear the Bihar Police uniform |

Rajni Kumari with his father Dashrath Paswan and mother Sunita Devi. (Photo credit: Dainik Bhaskar)

Every morning, long before sunrise, Dashrath Paswan would quietly leave his home in Bihar’s Jamui district and step onto the road with his handcart. Some days he found work. Some days he did not. Some days he returned home with enough money to buy groceries. On other days, he came back worried about how the family would manage the next meal.But in all those tough years he kept one promise: his children would study, come what may. Today that promise has come true. His daughter Rajni Kumari has been selected as a constable in the Bihar Police. In this success lies a father’s sacrifice and mindset to not let poverty decide his daughter’s future.

A handcart bought with hope

As per various media sources, the Paswan family’s financial situation was never easy. Dashrath worked as a labourer, while his wife Sunita Devi also took up daily wage work whenever possible. The income was often too little to run the household and pay for the children’s education.So Dashrath made a difficult decision. He took a loan and bought a handcart. Every day, he would leave home around 4 AM in the morning and take up whatever work came his way. He worked long hours and returned home late at night. He had only one goal. His daughter’s education should never stop.“We were determined to educate our daughter no matter what difficulties we faced. Today, our hard work has paid off. Rajni is not just my daughter, she is the first daughter in the entire Paswan community to become a Bihar police officer,” Dashrath told ETV Bharat.

Living in a small mud house

Rajni Kumari with her family. (Photo credit: ETV Bharat)

The family lived in a small two-room mud house in Bhajaur village, a few kilometres from Jamui town in Bihar. The house, made with mud, straw and sacks, stands beside a canal and a pond. It is where the family cooked, slept, studied and spent their days together. There were no coaching classes, no private tutors and no special facilities for Rajni. There was only determination.As soon as news of Rajni’s selection spread through the village, people began visiting the family home to congratulate them. For many, her success feels personal.Her grandmother, Shyampari Devi, says the family had waited years for such a moment. “It’s a matter of great joy. My granddaughter’s future is secured. She worked hard and became successful. I have five sons, all of whom work as laborers. Not all of their families have been able to educate their children,” she told ETV Bharat.

Her mother remembers the father’s struggle

Rajni’s mother, Sunita Devi, still remembers the difficult years when her husband pulled a handcart while she worked as a labourer. Other family members also worked to support the household. Sometimes they had to borrow money just to manage basic expenses. “At times, the situation became so difficult that we couldn’t see what would happen next, but the family never gave up. Uncles, aunts and other relatives also helped when needed,” she says.Today, however, her tears are tears of happiness.

“You study, we’ll do the hard work”

Crowd gathered around Rajni’s house to congratulate her. (Photo Credit: ETV Bharat)

Behind the daughter’s achievement, parents had a huge role. Dashrath and Sunita decided that their children would not work. No matter how difficult things became, they would do the labour themselves while the children focused on studies. Rajni says those words stayed with her.“Our parents told us that even if they had to work hard day and night, they would educate us. We resolved to fulfill their dreams,” recalls Rajni. She completed her schooling in Jamui and is currently pursuing her undergraduate studies. Alongside college, she began preparing for the Bihar Police recruitment examination. Her dream was simple: get a government job and support her family.

When that phone call came

Rajni Kumari. (Photo credit: ETV Bharat)

The day when the results were announced, it was her elder brother who informed her first. Rajni recalls, “My brother said, ‘Rajni, you’ve succeeded.’ I’ll never forget that moment. The whole family was filled with joy. It felt as if my parents’ long-cherished dream had come true.”For Rajni, this success does not belong to her alone. It is her parents’ too.In the end, this story is not just about clearing an exam. It is about a father who pulled a handcart every day so that his daughter would never have to. In many homes across India, parents quietly work long hours, skip their own needs and make endless sacrifices so their children can dream bigger lives. This story is a reminder that sometimes the greatest gift a parent can give a child is not money, connections or privilege.Sometimes, it is simply the promise: “You study. We’ll do the hard work.”